Romania

In January 2012, the penetration rate of fixed broadband is 15.2% of the population below the EU average of 27.7%. Romania is the country with the lowest penetration level in the EU. Romania has 64.8% of fixed lines providing speeds of 10 Mbps and above. With regards to high and ultra fast speeds, 29.1% of lines provide speeds between 30Mbps and below 100Mbps and 16.1% of fixed lines provide speeds equal or above 100 Mbps. Fixed broadband lines in Romania with speeds higher than 30Mbps are 45.2% (36.7 p.p. above the EU average), the greatest percentage of broadband lines in the EU for speeds in this range. Mobile broadband penetration in Romania (14.1%) is the lowest in the EU. In 2011 37% of the population use the internet regularly below the EU average of 68%. With regards to disadvantaged people, the rate was 19%. 54% of citizens have never used the internet. Take-up of eCommerce is very low, with only 6% of the population buying online. 9.2% of businesses purchased online, and 4.4% sold online. eGovernment take-up is still low both for citizens with 7% and for businesses with 55%. In 2009, business expenditure on R&D (BERD) in the ICT sectors amounted to 36 mio €. The share of ICT in total BERD is average, at above 15%.